Do Good While Doing Well

When I step off the iconic TED red dot and into the audience, a line of people waits for me. I’ve just given my talk about investing for change, Do Good While Doing Well, at TEDx Charlotte. As I meet the people standing in line, each asks the same question: “What do I do next?”

The answer to that question can be different for everyone. The things we are passionate about are different for all of us, and the amount of time or money we can devote not only differs by person but also based on what is going on in our lives. But there is one undeniable commonality: we want to make a difference.

I never thought that as one person, I would be able to effect the change I want to see in the world. I thought that was for big companies and charities to work on. Not me. My career started in corporate America, working for the same company for more than sixteen years. And then, one day, I accepted an invitation to a meeting to see a few entrepreneurs talk about their companies. I was fascinated. People were out there working on innovation near me? And they were interested in my help? How could I help entrepreneurs grow their businesses? What did I even know about entrepreneurship? And I didn’t have the kind of money the people you see on shows like Shark Tank do, so how could it be for me? These and so many other questions went through my head when I first learned about angel investing in 2012.

Through angel investing, I was able to find and engage with companies working on interesting innovations that I cared about, things that could make a real difference in the world. I’ve met many different types of people I would have never interacted with otherwise. And I found a way to use my time and my dollars for change.

You, too, may be wondering how you can make a difference. We hear stories about groups of people coming together, and due to their collective efforts, big things happen. Take the Ice Bucket Challenge back in 2014. A small group started this to raise money for the ALS Association. ALS is not very common, but it is a ruthless disease that unfortunately took my mom’s life in 2018. The challenge went viral and raised more money and awareness in support of ALS than the association had ever seen in its history. But can individuals make a difference too? The answer is yes! You will hear stories throughout this book about start-up companies that wouldn’t have made it if they hadn’t gotten help early on from just one or a few people. People like you and me!

The key factor that elevates a small business to an investable startup is its foundation for rapid growth and scalability. Many people I have spoken to over the years believe working with start-ups, especially investing in them, is meant only for the rich and well-connected. This is simply not true. My mission to demystify this thinking began on my podcast, The Angel Next Door, and now here in this book. You will discover why charity alone cannot solve the world’s problems, and we can be the change we want to see in the world by investing in change.

Like the audience members at my TEDx talk, you may be wondering how. How can individuals make a real difference? Well, in 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission, where I now sit on an advisory committee, changed the rules, so now just about anyone can invest in a start-up for as little as $50. Much more on this throughout the book.